Vermont Giving Access Health CT A Close Look

New England state struggling with its own health exchange takes a good look at Connecticut's

Vermont officials are considering turning to Connecticut's health insurance exchange as an alternative to that state's struggling Obamacare marketplace.

They have given that state's exchange, Vermont Health Connect, deadlines to make improvements; the first one comes at the end of this month. But if those deadlines aren't met, state officials are expected to explore alternatives, including using the federal government's HealthCare.gov exchange.

Vermont Lt. Gov. Phil Scott said in an interview that he and other state leaders, including Gov. Peter Shumlin's administration, have met with officials from Access Health CT, Connecticut's exchange. Scott said the idea came from a discussion at a lieutenant governors' meeting with Connecticut Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, who leads the board that oversees Access Health. Scott said officials have also met with Rhode Island officials about their state's exchange.

HARTFORD — The Senate late Thursday approved a bill that seeks to overhaul the labyrinthine and swiftly changing health care landscape.

The bipartisan legislation, which cleared the chamber on a vote of 30-5, has been in the works for more than a year. Supporters hailed the measure as a consumer-friendly...

HARTFORD — The Senate late Thursday approved a bill that seeks to overhaul the labyrinthine and swiftly changing health care landscape.

The bipartisan legislation, which cleared the chamber on a vote of 30-5, has been in the works for more than a year. Supporters hailed the measure as a consumer-friendly...

(DANIELA ALTIMARI)

Access Health has been marketing its services to other states since last year. Maryland already uses the Access Health system for its exchange, replacing the troubled system it used in 2014.

Access Health's budget for the next fiscal year anticipates raising $3 million in revenue from the division that markets services to other exchanges. CEO Jim Wadleigh said officials have been speaking to other states about sharing services and other functions.